Drip-preventing device for bottle

ABSTRACT

A drip-preventing device for a bottle intended to be located in the outlet of the bottle, comprising a funnel coaxial with the neck of the bottle neck and a ring forming part of or engaging with the bottle neck, the funnel being connected to the ring in such a way that a lip of the funnel is annularly spaced at all parts of its periphery from the lip of the bottle outlet.

United States Patent [72] Inventor [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Lucy Gwyneth Dowson Wrexham, Wales [21] AppLNo. 4,476

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Primary Examiner-Robert B. Reeves Assistant Examiner-Larry Manin Atlomeysl(enwood Ross and Chester E. Flavin ABSTRACT: A drip-preventing device for a bottle intended to [32] Priority Feb. 8, 1969 Great Britain [31 1 6,948/69 [54] DRIP-PREVENTING DEVICE FOR BO'l'lLE 4 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

be located in the outlet of the bottle, comprising a funnel coaxial with the neck of the bottle neck and a ring forming part of or engaging with the bottle neck, the funnel being connected to the ring in such a way that a lip of the funnel is annularly spaced at all parts of its periphery from the lip of the hotl Inn 1 1 H d 2 8 2 7 2 I 2 2 2 L C m s an U IF 11 I 2 0 s 55 .l [.l

215/73, 7 t e Outlet.

PAIENTEumwun 3.628.697

SHEET 1 OF 2 INVENTOR:

LUCY GWYNETH DOWSON ATTORNEYS.

PATENIEB 05021 ml SHEET 2 [IF 2 INVENTOR:

LUCY GWYNETH DOWSON BYIMMQ7M ATTORNEYS.

DRIP-PREVENTING DEVICE FOR BOTTLE This invention relates to bottles for fluids such as sauces or the like, and means whereby dripping of fluid from the bottle may be prevented.

As is well known, when fluid such as a sauce is poured from a bottle, a small portion or blob of the fluid tends to collect just below the lip of the bottle neck on the outside of the bottle below the point from which the fluid is being poured. When the bottle is righted, the blob starts to slide down the neck of the bottle and drip, and when a cap is put on the bottle, the fluid is squeezed out downwardly, and that which remains tends to coagulate between the cap and the bottle neck and render subsequent removal of the cap difficult. This phenomenon is messy, unhygienic and with ordinary sauce bottles difficult to avoid.

An object of the invention is to provide means whereby such dripping may be prevented.

The invention provides a drip-preventing device for a bottle comprising an open ended funnel mounted inside a rim in a manner whereby a gap is maintained between a lip of the funnel and the rim, so that fluid collects on the lip of the funnel instead of upon the rim, there being apertures in means connecting the rim and funnel whereby fluid collecting on the lip of funnel can return to the inside of the bottle.

The means may be integrally molded with the body of the bottle, or may be a separate removable plastic. It may be for example molded in polyethylene or spun from nylon.

Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fitting for fitting in the neck of a bottle according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross section through the insert of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the insert located in the neck of a bottle, with a screw cap on;

FIG. 4 shows a further embodiment of fitting mounted on a bottleneck;

FIG. 5 is a cross section through the fitting of FIG. 4 on the line VV;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of yet another fitting in position on a bottle; and

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing the drip prevention means formed integrally with the bottle.

The simplest form of drop prevention-means according to the invention is shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. This is an insert 10 for placing in the mouth of the neck of a bottle, molded as one piece from polyethylene, nylon or other suitable plastics material. The insert 10 consists of a circular rim II with a downward wall 12 which has a cylindrical part 12a and a tapering part 12b. A number of slots 13 are cut in the base of wall 12. The base of wall 12 merges into a further ring 14, which has a substantially frustoconical part 15 extending up therefrom and terminating in an annular lip 16. An annular space 17 is provided in between wall 11 and part 15, and a space 18 is provided within the frustoconical part 15.

In FIG. 3, insert 10 is shown mounted in the mouth of the neck of a bottle 20. The bottle 20 has screw threads 21 and a rim 22 on which rim ll rests. The insert 10 sits so that the wall 12 projects downwardly into the bottle, and ring 14 is located some distance below rim 22. A screw closure cap 23 is shown also.

In the variant shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the drip preventing device forms part of a closure cap 30 which is not intended to be used while the bottle is in use, that is the cap is used to replace the top when the bottle is first opened, and is not removed until the bottle is empty. Alternatively, the bottle may be offered for sale with this cap.

The cap 30 consists of a cylindrical outer wall 31, and a downwardly converging circular web 32 which branches off from it and terminates in a ring 34. Web 32 has slits 33 cut therein. From the ring 34 extends upwardly a frustoconical part 35 which terminates in a circular lip 36. There is an annula r space 37 between the wall 31 and part 35, and a s ace 38 within the part 35. The wall 31 extends below the leve of ring 33 and has on its lower part an internal screw thread 39 for engaging a corresponding thread on the neck of a bottle 40. A valve is provided which can open and close the outlet passage afforded by the space 38 through the frustoconical part 35. This valve consists of a valve member 41 in the form of a flat disc, a rotatable rod 42 to which the disc is attached. Journaled in the wall 31 and protruding at one side to terminate in a spatula end 42a by means of which the valve can be manipulated. The top of the cap has a closure flap 43 with a snap attachment 44 which snaps onto a protrusion 45 on the wall 31, and can be raised about a hinge 46.

Turning now to FIG. 6 of the drawings, this modified embodiment of drip-stopping device is again in the form of a cap 50 to be screwed onto the neck of a bottle. This cap 50 consists of a cylindrical wall 51, from-the top of which slopes a downwardly converging web 52 having slits 53. Web 52 terminates in a ring 54 from which extends upwardly a cylindrical funnel 55 terminating in the lip 56.

A stopper 57 with a plug part 57a and a cap part 57b is attached by a hinge S8 to the wall 51 and the plug part 58 can be used to stop the passage in funnel 55. Wall 51 extends below the level of ring 54, and has a screw threaded part 59 to engage the neck of a bottle.

FIG. 7 shows the neck of a bottle 60 according to the invention wherein drip-preventing device is molded integrally with the bottle. The bottle 60 has a neck 61 provided with external screw threads 62 and a terminal lip 63. Inside the neck is a downwardly tapering frustoconical web 64 with apertures 65, which terminates in a ring 66. A tapering funnel 67 extends upwardly from the ring 66. In the drawing a screw closure cap 68 is shown in position on the bottle.

The manner of working of all the drip-preventing devices described is the same. When pouring liquid, such as sauce, from the bottle, the liquid flows out through the funnel, and any tendency for a drop to adhere causes the drop to adhere to the outside of the lip of the funnel, instead of to the outside of the rim, of the mouth of the bottle, so that when the bottle is righted after pouring, the drip falls down the outerside of the funnel into the trough formed between the sloping sides and into the bottle through the slots.

As indicated the drip-preventing device is preferably made from a suitable plastics material such as nylon or polyethylene, but it could be made for example from aluminum.

What I claim is:

l. A device for preventing formation of drips on the rim of a bottle in the form of a bottle-receiving insert comprising:

a circular rim,

a cylindrical wall connecting to the circular rim and extending downwardly therefrom,

an annular inner ring in concentric and spaced relation with the circular rim and connected to the cylindrical wall by means of an apertured frustoconical web, and an inner frustoconical web spaced inwardly from the concentrically relative to the cylindrical wall and extending upwardly from the inner ring,

with the inner frustoconical web having a hollow passage therethrough and defining an upper circular lip concentric and coplanar with the circular rim.

2. A device according to claim I wherein a valve device is provided to open and close said hollow passage.

3. A device according to claim 1 wherein a cap is provided having a hinged stopper to plug said hollow passage.

4. A device according to claim I wherein said circular rim is the rim of the mouth of a bottle. 

1. A device for preventing formation of drips on the rim of a bottle in the form of a bottle-receiving insert comprising: a circular rim, a cylindrical wall connecting to the circular rim and extending downwardly therefrom, an annular inner ring in concentric and spaced relation with the circular rim and connected to the cylindrical wall by means of an apertured frustoconical web, and aN inner frustoconical web spaced inwardly from the concentrically relative to the cylindrical wall and extending upwardly from the inner ring, with the inner frustoconical web having a hollow passage therethrough and defining an upper circular lip concentric and coplanar with the circular rim.
 2. A device according to claim 1 wherein a valve device is provided to open and close said hollow passage.
 3. A device according to claim 1 wherein a cap is provided having a hinged stopper to plug said hollow passage.
 4. A device according to claim 1 wherein said circular rim is the rim of the mouth of a bottle. 